Reflections
From MARTHA
Read Martha's Reflection here
May the God of hope fill us with all joy and peace in believing through the power of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Romans 15:13
From VIRGINIA
Your enjoyment of the world is never right, till every morning you awake in Heaven; see yourself in your Father’s Palace; and look upon the skies, the earth, and the air as Celestial Joys; having such a revered esteem of all,
as if you were among the Angels.
Thomas Traherne
Read Virginia's Reflection here
From DAVID
“Stay in the city and wait….” Luke 24
God our Father, you have created us in your image, with a mind to understand your works, a heart to love you and a will to serve you. In these coming days, increase in us that knowledge, that love and that obedience, that we may grow daily in your likeness. Amen.
From VIRGINIA
O Lord, how many are my adversaries; many are they who rise up against me. Many are they who say to my soul ‘There is no help for you in your God.’ But you, Lord are a shield about me, my glory, and the lifter up of my head. Psalm 3: 1-3
Read Virginia's Reflection here
From David
We walk by faith, not by sight
2 Corinthians 5:7
Read David's Reflection here
From TONY
Search me O God, and know my heart; try me and know my anxious thoughts; And see if there be any hurtful way in me, and lead me in the everlasting way.
Psalm 139 v23, 24
Read Tony's Reflection here
Creator God, in this time of great anxiety, may I know your merciful search revealing to me my hurtful ways, and your gracious guidance leading me towards change; and in so doing, reveal the nature of your Kingdom.
Amen
Revd. Tony Berry, Rector
From HILARY
“But those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
Read Hilary's Thoughts here
Grace and Peace
Romans 1:7
From MAD
Careless in the care of God
Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?
Matthew 6.26 (NIV).
Read Mad's Reflection here:
Father, as we face many challenges may we remember that you are indeed our loving heavenly Father --- may we begin to live carelessly in your care.
Amen
From HILARY
Read Hilary's Thoughts here
Grace and Peace
Romans 1:7
Hilary Swift, Local Lay Minister
From MARTHA
Read Martha's Reflection here
Grant us wisdom, grant us courage,
serving thee whom we adore
Harry Emerson Fosdick
THIS WEEK'S REFLECTION
by Revd Tony Berry, Rector
Why do you stand far off, O Lord? Why do you hide Yourself in times of trouble? Psalm 10 v 1
You might think this is a rather negative verse to choose for a thought which is meant to be encouraging. It might indeed be negative, but it is also completely honest. The writer is not writing something that only they have experienced, this has been a universal feeling for individuals for millennia.
But of course it is not the only story. Running alongside that vein of a sense of being abandoned, for others there is also a vein of a sense of the presence of God in those very same times.
How is it that people of faith can come to such very different conclusions about the reality of God’s presence or lack of it? One thing is for sure, if God is who we think He is, the problem does not lie with him. And maybe even the word “problem” is not the right word to use.
Perhaps it is our sense of injustice and unfairness that leads us to feel He is not around when we need him most. Yet maybe He is present in that very sense of injustice, perhaps He is present in our sense of pain and grief. Maybe He is making His presence felt through those very feelings that lead us to conclude He is far away, or hiding. Where is he in those times of trouble ?- He is in us who have opened up our lives to HIm. He is in those acts of kindness and support we seek to offer to others.
The questions the Psalmist is asking are very real and genuine and come from real and genuine feelings; but the answers to them may not be as frightening as those feelings may seem to suggest.
Lord when I don’t sense your presence and feel lost and alone, remind of your promise to never leave me or forsake me.
Amen